Dr. Leonardo R. Estacio, Jr.
BS Agriculture, 1993
Most Distinguished Alumnus in
Public Health Policy and IKSP Studies
From agriculture, Dr. Estacio pursued his master’s degrees in Community Development at UP Diliman, and Public Health at John Hopkins University, USA; he had his doctorate in anthropology also at UP Diliman. He is the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at UP Manila and a professor in anthropology, behavioral sciences, and health policy courses.
He was a visiting scientist by the US government’s Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program on Drug Abuse Research, and a Participating Expert in the review of the 1998- 2008 United Nations Special Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Illicit Drugs in Vienna, Austria. On several occasions, he is a plenary and keynote Speaker, consultant, or editor of various research journals within and outside the country.
His research focused on public health, particularly on drug abuse and indigenous peoples. One such study on drug abuse is its effects on behavioral health among young populations. On indigenous knowledge, skills, and practices (IKSP), he developed an IKSP-Based Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction and Health Emergencies. His research outputs are shared globally in scientific journals that include the Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, Acta Medica, and Annals of Global Health.
He is a recipient of various awards such as One U.P. Professorial Chair award in Behavioral Sciences for Outstanding Teaching and Public Service, Outstanding Teacher Award, and UP Manila Gawad Chancellor Award for Extension Work, among others.